Turbine apparatus



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 30, 1946 INVENTOR '8. Kmg JR,

3 ALEXANDER [ATTORNEY] Dec. 28, 1948. 5. KING, JR

TURBINE APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 30, 1946 Sicorwnnr Am Pmmnv Am Om: PAssAsi Ann WITNESSES:

INVENTOR ALEXANDER 5. KING In.

ATTORNEY Wgm Fla-7.6.

Patented Dec. 28, 1948 2,457,157 TURBINE APPARATUS Alexander S. King, Jr., Prospect Park, Pa., as-

signor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation,

East Pittsburgh, vania Pa... a corporation of Pennsyl- Application in. 30, 1946, Serial No. 687,193

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to combustion apparatus, more particularly to the air supply therefor, and has for an object to provide novel structure of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in combination with a combustion chamber to which primary and secondary air are admitted, means for varying the relative quantities of primary and secondary air admitted to the combustion chamber. c

A further object of the invention is to provide a combustion chamber having separate means for admitting an to different zones thereof, to gether with means for proportioning the air admitted to each zone by said means.

Yet another object of the invention is to 'provide a combustion chamber having zones admission of air thereto, together with means for varying the relative quantities of air admitted to the different zones.

These and other objects are effected by the invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a gas turbine power plant incorporating the present invention, a portion of the outer casing and part of the inner structure being broken away to better illustrate the novel features;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of one-half of a combustion chamber such as shown in the power plant of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, taken along the line IIIIII of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken along the line IVIV of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view,taken along the line VV of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; and,

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the air admission parts of the present invention.

The present invention, although not limited thereto, is particularly adapted for use with a gas turbine power plant of the type employed on aircraft to drive the propeller on an electric generator or to supply motive fluid for jet propulsion of the aircraft. Such a plant preferably comprises a streamlined tubular casing having mounted axially therein a compressor adjacent the forward 'or inlet end, a turbine adjacent the rearward or discharge end,

and combustion apparatus located between the compressor and the turbine for heating the compressed air and which discharges the hot gases at suitable temperature and pressure to the turbine. The gases on leaving the turbine are discharged through a nozzle provided at the rear of the casing and may aid in propelling the aircraft.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, the power plant shown in Fig. 1 and indicated in its entirety by the reference character III, is adapted to be mounted in or on the fuselage or wing of an aircraft with the intake II, or left end, as viewed in this figure, pointed in the direction of flight.

The plant comprises an outer shell or casing structure l2-l2a providing an annular air duct or passage l3 extending fore and aft with respect to the aircraft. This casing has mounted therein, along its longitudinal axis, a fairing cone 14 adapted to house gearing connecting through a hollow guide vane I6 with auxiliaries (not shown) disposed in the casing l2a, an axial flow compressor ll, combustion apparatus indicated generally I8, a turbine I9 which drives the compressor, and a nozzle 2| defined by the inner wall 20 of the casing l2 and by a tailpiece 22, the latter being mounted concentrically in the casing and cooperating with the latter to provide the propulsion nozzle.

Air enters the intake II and flows substantially straight through the plant, passing through the compressor ll, where its pressure is raised, and .into the combustion apparatus I8, where it is heated. The hot gases, comprising the products of combustion and excess air heated by the combustion, on leaving the combustion apparatus are directed by suitable guide vanes or nozzles 23 against the blades 24 of the turbine disc 25, and then are discharged through the propulsion nozzle 2! to propel the aircraft.

By reference to Fig. 1, it will be seen that thecompressor and turbine rotors are interconnected by means of a shaft 26 supported by suitable bearings 21 and enclosed by an inner wall structure, generally indicated "28, which protects the shaft and bearings from high temperatures and also defines a portion of the annular air flow passage l3, in which the combustion apparatus I8 is disposed.

The present invention is not limited to the specific details or arrangements of structure thus far described, but is primarily concerned with the combustion apparatus, indicated generally at l8.

I -tiona1 area. from overlapping air spaces plate 53 is adapted enema? A pair of frusto-conical inner and outer wall members 3i and 32, respectively, separate the annular flow passage l3, at the region of the combustion apparatus |3,. into an annular burner or combustion space 33 overlapped both inwardly and outwardly by annular air spaces 34 and 33, respectively. The inner wall 3| is disposed with its base or larger end upstream and the outer wall 32 has its larger end or base downstream, with the result that the burner space 33 defined thereby increases in cross-secits upstream end to its downstream end, conversely, the inner and outer defined by the walls 23 and 3| and the latter by the walls I! and 32, decrease in cross-sectional area from their upstream ends to their downstream ends. v

Both the inner and the outer walls 3| and 32, respectively, are provided with numerous openings 33 therethrough for flow of air to the burner space 33 from the overlapping air spaces 34 and 35.

The upstream ends of the burner space 33 and of the overlapping air spaces 34 and 35 are closed by an annular header plate 43 (Fig. 2) whose inner periphery abuts the wall 28 and whose outer periphery abuts the wall or casing l2. The outer periphery abuts the wall or casing I2. The header plate 43 is provided, midway of its inner and outer peripheries, with an annular series of openings 4| for passage of fuel atomizing nozzles 42 mounted in the fiat downstream wall 43 of. the fuel manifold 44 whose upstream wall 45 is curved or streamlined to facilitate division and passage of the air streams at either side thereof to the inner and outer air spaces 34 and 35, respectively.

The fuel manifold 44 is secured to the header plate 43 by bolts 43 threaded in spacerulugs 41 integral with the fuel manifold wall 43 (Fig.

An annular lantern valve plate 53 is disposed adjacent the upstream face of the header plate 43 with its outer periphery rotatably received in a recess 5| provided in the flange 52 at the rear end of the forward section of outer casing l2, the flange 52 being secured to the mating flange 53 at the forward end of the aft section of outer casing l2. Similarly, the inner periphery of the valve to rotate in the recess 54 provided in the flange 55 at the rear end of wall 53, this flange 55 being secured to the mating flange 51 at the forward end of wall 23 (Fig. 1.)

In the region of the fuel nozzles 42', the valve plate 53 is provided with elongated arcuate openings 58, separated by struts 59, (Figs. 3 and 4). The length of the spacer studs 41 is slightly greater than the thickness of the lantern valve plate 53, so. that the portions of the valve plate which lie between the header plate 43 and the fuel manifold downstream wall 43 may rotate freely.

The header plate 43 is provided with inner and outer annular rows of openings 53 for admission of air to the overlapping air spaces 34 and 35, respectively, these openings 63 preferably being rectangular, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, and being of a radial extent corresponding to the radial dimension of the air spaces at their upstream ends. The air spaces 34 and 35 are divided radially by cylindrical partitions 32 into annular passages 33. The upstream ends of these cylindrical partitions may be secured to the header plate 43 and their downstream ends may be seecured to reinforcing ribs or rings 64 which are secured to the air-space sides of the inner and outer walls 3| and 32.

34 and 35, the former Thus, all air entering the air spaces 34 and 33 through the header plate openings 33 is directed I by the partitions 32 to different portions of. the

burner space walls 3| and 32, the air flowin through the shorter annular passages 33 nearest the fuel manifold 44 entering the burner space 33 in the vicinity of the nozzles and constituting primary air, and the air flowing through the longer annular passages 63 farthest from the fuel manifold entering the burner space farther downstream and constituting secondary mixing andcooling air.

In actual flight, the combustion conditions vary with changes in altitude and changes in engine operating speeds. Consequently, optimum combustion can be obtained for a wider range of operating conditions if the ratio of primary to secondary air can be varied than is obtainable with the fixed ratio heretofore provided.

To effect the desired variation in ratio of primary and secondary air, the lantern valve plate 53 is provided with inner and outer annular series of openings 13 corresponding in number and spacing to the number and spacing of the openings 33 in the header plate 43. The valve plate 53 is rotatable, within limits, relative to the header plate and at the opposite limit of adjustment most of the air is admitted to the shorter primary air passages 33 (Fig. 6.).

Obviously, the valve plate 53 may be moved to any desired position of adjustment intermediate the two limits mentioned. -Movement of the valve plate is afiected at will by the operator through suitable control linkage or other mechanism (not shown) connecting with lever I2 secured to the valve plate 53 by the bracket I3 (Fig. 2). The lever 12 has limited circumferential movement in a slot I4 in the casing- I2, and leakage of air through this slot is prevented by a sliding plate 15 carried by the bracket i3 and engaging the inner surface of the slotted wall l3. (Fig. 2). 1

While I have shown the invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without de-' parting from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In combustion apparatus, wall structure defining a combustion chamber, said wall structure including an annular wall increasing in diameter from the upstream end of the combustion chamber towardsthe downstream end thereof and separating said combustion chamber from an overlapping air space, said annular wall having longitudinally-spacedgroups of openings for admission of air from said overlapping air space to said combustion chamber, the groups communicating with the upstream portion of said chamber admitting primary air and the groups communicating with the downstream portion of said chamber admitting secondary air; partition structure separating said overlapping air space into passages each communicating with a different group of said air admission openings and coniprising a plurality of cylinders of difierent diameters concentric about the annular wall with their downstream ends adjacent the latter inter mediate the longitudinally-spaced groups of'air ass'msv I admission openings; and valve means for controlling admission of air to said passages, said valve means being adjustable to vary the ratio oi primary and secondary air admitted through said passages.

2. In combustion apparatus, wall structure deconduct secondary air to said combustion chamber; and a disc-type lantern valve controlling entrance of air to the radially-aligned upstream ends of said passages and adjustable between limits, at one of said limits the majority of air entering the primary air passages and at the other of said limits the majority of air entering the secondary air passages.

3. In combustion apparatus, wall structure de-- lining a combustion chamber, said wall structure including an annular wall separating said combustion chamber from an overlapping air space,

groups-ct air admission openings, whereby the spaces between said cylinders provide annular passages for flow of primary and secondary air to the combustion chamber; and valve means associated with the upstream ends or said passages for controlling the flow of air therethrough, said valve means comprising a radially-disposed header having an annular series of air ports therein aligned with the upstream ends of the annular passages, and a valve plate associated with said header and rotatable relative thereto between limits, said valve plate having an annular series of openings therein whose shape diflers from that 01' the openings in the header, said said annular wall being substantially i'rustoconical with its smaller end at the upstream end of the combustion chamber and its larger and at the downstream end oi said combustion chamber and having longitudinally-spaced groups oi openings providing for admission oi primary air to the upstream region of the combustion chamber and oi secondary air to the downstream portion of said chamber: partition structure comprising'a plurality of nested cylinders oi diflerent diameters concentric about the annular wall with their downstream ends associated with said well at points between the longitudinally-spaced shapes being so related that at onelimit of rotation of the valve plate relative to theheader, the major portion 01 the air ports uncovered by the valve plate openings communicates with the primary air passages, at the other limit of rotation of the valve plate relative to the header the major portion of the air ports uncovered by the valve plate openings communicates with the secondary air passages, and at a position of rotation intermediate said two limits of rotation the primary and secondary air passage portions of the air ports uncovered by the valve plate openings are substantially equal.

ALEXANDER 8. KING, Ja.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

